A vote on women bishops was held during a meeting General Synod of the Church of England in November last year Credit: Yui Mok/PA Wire/Press Association Images

A two-day conference of the governing body of the Church in Wales in Lampeter will come to an end today. The meeting is discussing the ordination of women as bishops - one of the most divisive issued among the Church community.

The 144 members of the governing body have been put into seven groups each facilitated by a bishop, to consider two papers - one that outlined the case for the ordination of women and one that set out the case against.

It is now five years since the last time that Governing Body considered the question of the ordination of women to the episcopate, and many of its members will have changed.

The bishops feel it is important that Governing Body has the opportunity to explore the theological questions behind these issues, and understand the reasons why those opposed to the ordination of women to the episcopate wouldn't be able to accept the sacramental ministry of a woman bishop, as well as the theological reasons why those in favour believe that the time is right for such as a step.

The introduction of women bishops was rejected by the Church of England last year Credit: Yui Mok/PA Wire/Press Association Images

The Church in Wales is set to discuss the ordination of women priests as bishops during a two day meeting in Lampeter which starts later.

144 members from the Church in Wales will be separated into seven groups to consider two papers – one outlining the case for the ordination of women and one setting out the case against.

In April 2008 the Bench of Bishops sponsored a Bill proposing that women be enabled to be ordained as bishops but the Bill was declared lost after it failed to achieve support by the necessary two-thirds majority.

A further two-stage Bill ordaining women as bishops will be introduced to the Governing Body in September.

Last year a vote by the Church of England for the ordination of women bishops was narrowly rejected.